New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-31
GOVERNOR HILL And SPECIAL LEGISLA
TON

1ION.
Governor Hill has developed a sudden aus
terity of conviction with regard to special
| legislation. The prevailing impression, that
the impclling motive Of this remarkable change
of view is the prospect of having to pass upon
the High-License bill, rests upon facts which
nnqucstonably Justify the belief. For it Is
matter of record that Governor Hill
has been ready to approve special
legislation when such special legislation
was in the nature of an interference with the
functions of established authority in the in
tercst of Office holders or seekers when 1t
was sought in order TO increase the cmolu-
ments of some partisan when it was
aimed directly at good morals, as in the so
called Mandamus act when its purpose was to
revive and secure the payment of unjust or
fraudulent claims upon the treasury which had
been kicked out of the courts. In such
cases of special legislation Governor Hill has
signed the bills with cheerful alacrity. and he
has done so time and again in open
defiance of reiterated proof that the objects
of the bills so enacted were Ubiquitous and that
they in a majority of instances were scarcely
disguised schemes of plumber. The legislative
record Of Governor Hill covers so large num-
Der of measures of this class, all falling into the
category of special legislation that though no
body expects phenomenal dclicacy from the
Executive, those who know him best may well
DO surprised at the reckless audacity Of his
present change of front.
The laws of 1885 and those Of 1886 arc full
Of special legislation, twothlrds Of which Ger
tainly never ought to have appeared on the
statute-boob Until now it has been found I'M
possible to gauge the limits of the Governors
complasance in the signing of bad special bills.
Was it sought to force the payment of some
rotten old claim trumpcd up during the Tweed
regime, the Executive pen was really
to vitalize the fraud. Was it sought to compel
the Newly rk City government to pay for
officers it did not need to increase the salaries
of men already ovclpaid; to create sinccurcS
for "workcls"; Governor Hill was pre-
pared to lend hand" to the consummation
Of the rascality. Again and again he Las
signed special bills, taking the power of ap-
pontment and the fixing of salaries out OF the
hands of the proper authorities. Again and
again be has prostitutcd the executive power
TO the support of political strikers. paraiyzing
and multiplying departments and courts together
in order to force through ncfarious projects.
thieving claims. false prctcnccs Of a'lkinds Only
last wear lie showed how little afraid Of spec
a legislation he was when he at the demand
of the rum power, tied the hands of the city
Board of Excise with the infamous mapdamus
bill. and thus deliberately enabled the drunk
ard-makcrs TO extend their work Indefinitely,
in despite Of all the people Of Ncw-Yorii could
say or do.
We do not indulge any rosy expectations in
regard TO Governor Hill. 1t is not to be thought
that such man would or could suddenly change
his nature. But even he, callous as he has
shown himself to public condemnation, might
have regard enough for the decencics Of civ
ized life 10 refrain from prctencc which is
not less hypocritical than insulting which can
assurcdly deceive nobody; and which possesses
absolutely no value as means of conccaling
his purpose He has no doubt made up his
mind TO veto the High-License bill. That he
should do so is easily understood. He has al
ways been the good friend and willing instru-
ment Of the rum power. lie has never been
affiliated with any higher or more respectable
clement. But IL is too much for him to talk
about special legislation. He. the hero of the
4Mandamus bill >" lie, the ready signcr OF
all manner Of Tweed ring claims and battered.
rejected. exposed frauds. lie. the perennial
supporter Of special raids on the treasury.
Let him, if his pledges 10 his gin-mill patrons
and friends demand it, veto the High-Lccnsc
bill, but let him not assume a pretcxt so trans
parent as that Of special legislation 1t will,
however, 10 all the same. Anything for the
saloons nothing against them; has been the
maxim Of his administration, and it will 60
down to history as one which the Rum Power
controlled absolutely.
The Senate, however, is the more strongly
bound to mako him expose himself. 1t should
pass the High-Lioense bill without delay. and
put the measure in his hands. The cause Of
good morals will not suffer In tho end by
classifying all its foes sharply, and that will be
the inevitable result of the impending veto